It doesn’t take a foodie to realize that the number of Maspeth eateries has stagnated over the years. While new additions to the Grand Avenue scene like El Pollo Real and Homemade Taqueria have brought delightfully fresh fares to Maspeth, the majority of Maspeth’s dining options are the tried-and-true neighborhood classics.

Enter Patrizia’s, an Italian restaurant that looks to give Maspeth residents another choice when it comes to grabbing a bite when it opens in the first weeks after the New Year.

For some Maspeth residents, Patrizia’s can’t come soon enough. Alaio says he regularly receives calls from locals asking him when the new location will open.

“It’s something different for people to try,” said Antonio Alaio, owner of Patrizia’s’ new Maspeth location. “I hope it’s a success.”

Located at 69-35 Grand Avenue, formerly the site of a McDonald’s, Patrizia’s Maspeth location seems like the next logical step for the local restaurant chain. Spanning two floors and a spacious 2,400 square feet, Patrizia’s new location looks to tap into the same homey, yet elegant charm that made its other locations so successful.

With 12 Patrizia’s locations throughout New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey, Alaio said the decision to come to Maspeth was a no-brainer.

Some of the most popular menu items include the restaurant's signature Burrata All' Amalfitana (mozzarella stuffed with cheese), Grilled Baby Polpo alla Fuorigrotta (grilled octopus), and Fioretti alla Boscaiola (stuffed pasta in a mushroom with a mix of four different kinds of cheese presented in a mushroom prosciutto sauce).

Maspeth residents can hope that Patrizia’s move to McDonald’s old Grand Avenue signifies a renaissance for the commercial strip. Alaio pointed out that Patrizia’s Williamsburg location opened nine years ago, right around the same time the neighborhood began to take off.

“Instead of people leaving the neighborhood to eat, they’ll have something here to try,” Alaio said.